Internal combustion engine fuel system



Nov. 16, 1937. BALL 2,099,096

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE FUEL SYSTEM Filed Oct. 12, I956 INVENTOR77022745 M Ball.

E- BY fiat/nu, M

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 16,1937

PATENT OFFICE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE FUEL SYSTEM Thomas M. Ball,Detroit, Mich.

Application October 12, 1936, Serial No. 105,234

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in internal combustion enginefuel systems.

More particularly, the invention pertains to the provision in ,a fuelsystem of this character of means for accommodating selective employmentof a governor.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide an internalcombustion engine fuel system in which a governor may be selectivelyemployed or omitted, as desired, without requiring alteration of thecarburetor and intake manifold of the system.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a fuel mixture systemof this kind means for selectively connecting the carburetor directly tothe intake manifold while maintaining communication between suctionoperative parts of the carburetor and a predetermined zone of thesystem, and for accommodating the insertion of a governor body betweenthe carburetor and manifold while still maintaining communicationbetweenthe suction operative parts of the carburetor and the system.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved gaskets whichmay be employed in end for end or side for side reversed positions toestablish communication between the suction operative parts of thecarburetor and the fuel mixture passage of the system at locationsbetween the governor body and the intake manifold and the carburetor andintake manifold, respectively.

A still further object of the invention is to pro-- vide an improvedgasket of this character which may be selectively used between themanifold and the governor or between the manifold and the carburetor toestablish communication between the suction operative parts of thecarburetor and a predetermined zone of the fuel mixture passage of thesystem when the governor is employed and not employed, respectively.

An additional object of the invention is to provide gaskets of thischaracter which are adapted to be indexed by the means by which theparts of the fuel mixture system are secured together in order to assureproper connections between the suction operative parts of the carburetorand the fuel mixture passage of the system.

, An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

of a portion of an internal combustion engine fuel mixture systemembodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly Fig. 1'is.a fragmentaryvertical sectional view in section, of a portion of an internalcombustion engine fuel system including a governor body and embodyingthe invention.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a gasket embodying the modified form of theinvention.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, theimproved internal combustion engine fuel mixture system comprises anintake manifold, generally designated by the numeral l0, having an inletbranch ll provided with a radial flange I 2 for receiving the lower endof the carburetor, generally designated by the numeral l3. Thecarburetor includes the main body portion M in which is mounted suctionoperable parts comprising a piston actuating member I5 and step-up valvemechanism l6 operable by the piston l5 and connected thereto by a plateI1. While the step-up mechanism is illustrated as the suction operateddevice in the drawing, it should be understood that this particulardevice is merely illustrative and that the invention may be used inconjunction with any other suction operable mechanism. Formed on thelower end portion of the carburetor body I4 is a radial flange l8 bywhich the body portion I4 is attached to a throttle body I9 which isalso provided with a radial flange 20. Interposed between the radialflanges l8 and I9 of the carburetor body and throttle is a heatinsulating separator 2|. Formed in the carburetor body M, separator 2|and throttle body H) are registering suction passage sections 22, 23 and24, respectively, which communicate with each other when the parts ofthe carburetor are secured together in their proper relationship.Throughout the specification and claims the term carburetor is employedto designate the entire assembly of the carburetor body, separator andthrottle body.

The throttle body 19 and inlet branch 20 have registering fuel mixturepassage sections 25 and 26 which are held in alignment with each otherwhen the carburetor is mounted on the inlet branch I l as illustrated inFig. l. Formed at the lower end of the'throttle body 19 is a radialflange 21 by which the carburetor is securable to the inlet branch H.The throttle body l9 also includes a throttle valve 28 disposed in thefuel mixture passage section 25 thereof The throttle valve 28 isoperable by valve actuating mechanism, generally designated by thenumeral 29.

Interposed between the flanges l2 and 21 of the manifold inlet branch Hand throttle body I9 is a gasket 30 which is provided with an opening 3ithat registers with the fuel mixture passage sections 2Band 25. Thisgasket is also provided with two pairs of diagonally opposite slots 32which extend from the opening 3| to locations which register with thelower end of the suction passage section 24 of the throttle body IS. Theslots 32 provide communication between the suction passage sectionswhich lead to the cylinder 33 in which th piston I5 is disposed and alocation in the fuel mixture passage of the system on the suction sideof the hrottle valve 28. lhe gasket is provided with apertures 34 whichregister with apertures formed in the flanges l2 and 21 of the inletbranch H and the throttle body I9, respectively, and through which bolts35 extend. The bolts 35 are preferably threaded in the apertures of theflange I2 so as to firmly secure the carburetor to the manifold Ill.

The apertures 34 and bolts 35 serve as indexing means for assuringproper positioning of the gasket 30 during assembly of the fuel mixturesystem. By virtue of the two pairs of diagonally opposite slots 32 it isnot possible to improperly position the gasket 30 for the latter may bereversed side for side or end for end while still maintaining at leastone of the slots in registration with the lower end of the suctionpassage 24.

When it is desired to interimpose upon the flow of fuel mixture throughthe fuel system either a fixed or variable control in addition to thatprovided by the throttle valve of the carburetor, a I

collar, hereinafter called a governor body, 36 may be inserted betweenthe carburetor I3 and the manifold inletbranch II. The governor body 36comprises a tubular member having a fuel mixture passage section 31which is registerable with the fuel mixture passage sections 25 and 26of the carburetor and inletbranch respectively. Mounted in the passagesection 31 is a governor valve 38 which is operatively connected by alever 39 and link 40 with any suitable governor valve controllingmechanism (not shown). The governor controlling mechanism may be of amanually actuatable type such as thatemployed to selectively set thegovernor valve 38 in a selected fixed position, or it may be of anautomatic character adapted to vary the posi tions of the valve 38 inresponse to engine operating conditions or in response to operation ofapparatus driven by the engine.

Formed in the upper end of the governor and body 36 is a suction passagesection 4| which is adapted to register with the suction passage section24 of the carburetor. The suction passage section M has a port 42leading therefrom which communicates with the fuel mixture passagesection 31 of the governor body at a location on the suction side of thegovernor valve '38, thus assuring a communication of the suction passagesections with a location in the fuel mixture passage at which vacuum ispresent even when the throttle and governor valves are substantiallyclosed.

When the foregoing governor body 36 is employed, a gasket 43 is disposedbetween the lower flange 21 of the throttle body l9 and the upper end ofthe governor body 26, as illustrated. in Fig. 3. The gasket 43 isprovided with apertures 44 which register with apertures in the flange21 and governor body 36 and through which bolts 45 extend, the boltsbeing preferably threaded in the apertures of the governor body. Thegasket 43 is also provided with diagonally opposite pairs of apertures46, at least one of which is adapted to register with the suctionpassage sections 24 and 4| of the throttle body and governor bod} i9 and36, respectively, when the gasket is reversed either end for end or sidefor side. The aperture 46, which is aligned with the suction passages 24and 4!, therefore provides communication between the fuel mixturepassage of the system on the suction side of the governor valve 38 andthe suction operative mechanism of the carburetor.

In Fig. 5 of the drawing is shown a modified form of the invention whichenables a single gasket to be used in a fuel mixture system either withor without the governor. The gasket 41, shown in Fig. 5, is providedwith one pair of diagonally opposite slots 32' and one pair ofdiagonally opposite apertures 46'. Holes 44' are formed in the oppositeends of the gasket 47 for the reception of either the attachment bolts35 or attachment bolts 45, depending upon whether the gasket is insertedbetween the throttle body and the inlet branch of the manifoldcorresponding to the showing in Fig. 4 or between the governor body andthe throttle body, corresponding to the showing in Fig. 3. It is obviousthat by reversing the gasket 41 side for side it may be used in eitherof the foregoing locations to accommodate employment of the governorbody in fuel system or operation of the fuel system without the governorbody as desired while still assuring communication between the suctionoperative parts of the carburetor and. the suction zone of the fuelmixture passage on the suction side of either the throttle valve 28alone or both the throttle valve 28 and governor valve 38.

By virtue of the foregoing construction the main parts of the fuelmixture system may be of identical construction whether or not agovernor body is employed therein and the gaskets which facilitateconvenient adaptation of the fuel .mixture system for alternative use ofa governor are so constructed as to be impossible of assembly. in animproper position. This feature of the invention greatly reducesassembly problems, particularly in high production lines of thecharacter employed in the manufacture and assembly of motor vehicles andengines therefor.

Although but several specific embodiments of the invention are hereinshown and described, various changes and details of construction andarrangement in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1.'In an internal combustion engine fuel system comprising a fuelmixture inlet branch, a carburetor including a throttle valve, and agovernor body insertable between said carburetor and said inlet branchand including-a governor valve, said carburetor and governor body havingregisterable fuel mixture passage sections and registerable suctionpassage sections for establishing communication between the fuel mixturepassage of said system and suction operative parts of said carburetor,means for alternatively connecting said carburetor directly to saidinlet branch and indirectly thereto through said governor bodyrespectively comprising flanges on said inlet branch, carburetor andgovernor body, and a pair of gaskets, one insertable directly betweensaid carburetor and said inlet branch having an opening for connectingthe fuel mixture passage sections thereof and having a slot extendingfrom said opening and registerable with the suction passage section ofsaid carburetor for connecting the same to the fuel mixture passage ofsaid system at the junction of said carburetor and inlet branch, theother gasket having an opening for connecting the fuel mixture passagesections of said inlet branch and governor body when the latter isemployed and having a port registerable with the suction passagesections of said governor body and carburetor for connecting the same tothe fuel mixture passage of said system on the suction side of saidgovernor valve.

2. In an internal combustion engine fuel system comprising a fuelmixture inlet branch, a carburetor including a throttle valve and agovernor body insertable between said carburetor and said inlet branchand including a governor valve, said carburetor and governor body havingregisterable fuel mixture passage sections and registerable suctionpassage sections for establishing communication between the fuel mixturepassage of said system and suction operative parts of said carburetor;means for alternatively connecting said carburetor directly to saidinlet branch and indirectly thereto through said governor bodyrespectively comprising flanges on said inlet branch, carburetor andgovernor body, a pair of gaskets, one insertable directly between saidcarburetor and said inlet branch having an opening for connecting thefuel mixture passage sections thereof and having a slot extending fromsaid opening and registerable with the suction passage section of saidcarburetor for connecting the same to the fuel mixture passage of saidsystem at the junction of said carburetor and inlet branch, the othergasket having an opening for connecting the fuel mixture passagesections of said inlet branch and governor body when the latter isemployed and having a port registerable with the suction passagesections of said governor body and carburetor for connecting the same tothe fuel mixture passage of said system on the suction side of saidgovernor valve, and means adapted to extend through said flanges andsaid gaskets for securing adjacent flanges together and for indexing theconnecting openings, slot and port of the gaskets with their respectivecorresponding passage sections.

3. An internal combustion engine fuel mixture system comprising anintake manifold having an inlet branch, a carburetor securable theretohaving a fuel mixture passage and having a suction passage forestablishing communication between a suction operative part of saidcarburetor and said fuel mixture passage, and a gasket between saidinlet branch and said carburetor having an opening therethroughregistering with the fuel mixture passages of said carburetor and saidinlet branch and having a slot extending from said opening andregistering with said suction passage for connecting the latter withsaid fuel mixture passage.

4. An internal combustion engine fuel mixture system comprising anintake manifold having an inlet branch, a carburetor having a throttlevalve, said inlet branch and carburetor having registering fuel mixturepassage sections and having apertured flanges at the adjacent endsofsaid passage sections for securing said carburetor to said inlet branch,the body of said carburetor having a suction passage leading from theend thereof adjacent said inlet branch, means extending through theapertures of said flanges for securing said flanges together, and agasket between said flanges having an opening registering with saidvfuel mixture passage sections and having a slot extending from saidopening to said suction passage for connecting the latter with said fuelmixture passage.

5. An internal combustion engine fuel mixture system comprising anintake manifold having an inlet branch, a carburetor having a throttlevalve, said inlet branch and carburetor having registering fuel mixturepassage sections, and having apertured flanges at the adjacent ends ofsaid passage sections for securing said carburetor to said inlet branch,the body of said carburetor having a suction passage leading from theend thereof adjacent said inlet branch, means extending through theapertures of said flanges for securing said flanges together, and agasket between said flanges having an opening registering with said fuelmixture passage sections and having a slot extending from said openingto said suction passage for connecting the latter with said fuel mixturepassage, said gasket being indexed by said securing means for bringingthe opening and slot thereof into registration with said fuel mixturepassage sections and said suction passage, respectively.

6. An internal combustion engine fuel mixture system comprising anintake manifold having an inlet branch, a carburetor mounted on an endof said inlet branch having a throttle valve, said inlet branch andcarburetor having registering fuel mixture passage sections and saidcarburetor having a suction passage leading from the end thereofadjacent said inlet branch, and a gasket between adjacent ends of saidcarburetor and inlet branch having an opening registering with said fuelmixture passage sections and having a plurality of slots therein, eachextending from said opening and so located that one thereof willregister with said suction passage whether said gasket is reversed sidefor side or end for end in its position between said inlet branch andsaid carburetor.

} 7. An internal combustion engine fuel mixture system comprising-anintake manifold having an inlet branch, a carburetor mounted on an endof said inlet branch having a throttle valve, said inlet branch andcarburetor having registering fuel mixture passage sections and saidcarburetor having a suction passage leading from the end thereofadjacent said inlet branch, flanges on the adjacent ends of saidcarburetor and inlet branch having registering apertures therein, meansextending through said apertures for securing said flanges together, anda gasket between adjacent ends of said carburetor and inlet branchhavingan opening registering with said fuel mixture passage sections andhaving a plurality of slots therein, each extending from said openingand s located that one thereof will register with said suction passagewhether said gasket is reversed side for side or end for end in itsposition between said inlet branch and said carburetor, said gaskethaving apertures therein for receiving said securing means and beingadapted to be indexed by the latter for holding at least one of saidslots in registration with said suction passage.

8. An internal combustion engine fuel mixture system comprising anintake manifold having an inlet branch provided with a fuel mixturepassage section, a carburetor adapted to be mounted on said inlet branchhaving fuel mixture and suction passage sections therein respectively, agovernor body adapted to be inserted between said inlet branch and saidcarburetor including a governor valve and having'a fuel mixture passagesection leading from the end of said governor adjacent said carburetorto the fuel mixture passage section of said governor body at a locationon the suction side of said governor valve, and a gasket adapted to beselectively placed between said carburetor and said inlet passage whensaid governor body is not employed in said system or between saidcarburetor and said governor bodywhen the latter is employed, saidgasket having an opening registerable with the fuel mixture pas-

